Protective temporary wall and roof structure

ABSTRACT

A temporary wall and roof structure used primarily for protecting unset mortar in a masonry wall from freezing weather conditions. The temporary wall and roof will preferably enclose completely the masonry wall and may be extended upward as the work progresses. The temporary wall and roof are sufficiently weather-tight to permit effective use of a space heater to maintain a non-freezing temperature. In other situations the temporary wall may be used on the exterior of a building in progress to protect against the weather generally. The temporary wall and roof are made of rigid sheet material which can be disassembled and stored in a relatively small space for repeated future uses on other buildings.

llnie ttes atent [191 Proulx [4 1 Jan. 7, 1975 [76] Inventor: Leo R. Proulx, 66 Cypress St.,

Manchester, NH.

221 Filed: Apr. 27, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 355,071

[51] Int. Cl E04b 1/40, E04b 2/28, E04g 7/00 [58] Field of Search 52/357, 394, 478, 489, 52/645, 646, 758 A, 758 F, 173, 262, 127,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,256,104 9/1941 Ringle 52/394 2,307,899 1/1943 Olsen 52/357 2,634,832 4/1953 Hammltt 52/489 2,668,342 2/1954 Nelsson 52/357 3,245,187 4/1966 May 52/478 3,282,012 11/1966 Du Pradal 52/478 3,486,579 12/1969 Blomgren 182/178 3,555,754 l/l971 Kellogg 52/282 3,650,078 3/1972 Jennings 52/646 3,762,110 10/1973 Boss 52/63 Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland Attorney, Agent, or Firm-C. Yardley Chittick [5 7] ABSTRACT A temporary wall and roof structure usedprimarily for protecting unset mortar in a masonry wall from freezing weather conditions. The temporary wall and roof will preferably enclose completely the masonry wall and may be extended upward as the work progresses. The temporary wall and roof are sufficiently weathertight to permit effective use of a space heater to maintain a non-freezing temperature. In other situations the temporary wall may be used on the exterior of a building in progress to protect against the weather generally. The temporary wall and roof are made of rigid sheet material which can be disassembled and stored in a relatively small space for repeated future uses on other buildings.

1 Claim, 10 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 lll| tll|l W% L I II l t Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3,858,364

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 PROTECTIVE TEMPORARY WALL AND ROOF STRUCTURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the erection of new masonry walls and some types of buildings, it is generally considered necessary to provide temporary exterior walls for protection against freezing and inclement weather. These temporary walls according to current practice are usually in the form of large sheets of heavy cloth or plastic which are attached to the outside of the scaffolding or the building itself by stringing them on ropes or nailing them to temporary framing or otherwise as may be convenient. The cloth walls have the disadvantage of blocking out the light and of being easily damaged to shorten their life, thus rendering the protection relatively expensive. The plastic sheets are usually transparent or translucent, but are subject to tearing, and in general are not reusable. Disposition of these large plastic sheets poses a problem.

In high freezing winds when protection is most needed, these cloth or plastic sheet walls often tear loose, sometimes falling below and allowing the new cement in the masonry wall to freeze. Rebuilding of the wall then becomes a necessity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to overcome the deficiencies of the current practices outlined above. The walls are preferably made of rigid corrugated fiberglass panels of uniform size. Each panel overlaps to a limited extent the adjacent panel on each side and above and below, thus to present a continuous surface.

The panels are securely attached to rigid temporary supports such as conventional steel scaffolding which may be readily erected along and around the structure being built. The basic elements of the frames that carry the panels are vertical posts and horizontal members detachably connected to the posts. In a preferred arrangement, the temporary wall will be erected several feet away from the exterior of the structure to give protection to the workmen, such as bricklayers working their way upward on conventional steel scaffolding, and at the same time when the temporary roof is in place to provide a secure enclosed space that may be heated. The vertical posts of the scaffolding support the horizontal members which are clamped to the posts. The horizontal members may be in the form of strong but light weight steel channels.

The fiberglass panels, which are usually translucent are attached to the horizontal members by special spring clips which may be placed in attaching position by the workmen from the interior side of the temporary wall and roof. All of the part are subject to complete disassembly so that when the need for the temporary wall is ended, the panels, clamps, horizontal members and clips may be stacked and stored in a relatively small space for future use. Since no damage to the parts will occur in ordinary assembly and disassembly, the present invention, while offering better protection than the prior art structures, will also in the long run, be more economical than the present constructions.

In the detailed disclosure made hereafter the corrugated fiberglass panels may be used not only as temporary walls but also as a temporary roofing. In special instances the fiberglass panels might be left in place as BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational exterior view of four continuous sections of a wall in which each section is shown as consisting of three panels supported by vertical and horizontal members.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 at the channel 26 next below channel 18.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged section taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a vertical section somewhat enlarged taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 1 showing the vertical post as being a part of conventional scaffolding.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an individual wire clip used in attaching the panels to the horizontal members.

FIG. 8 is a small scale vertical cross sectional view, showing a section of a masonry wall and the location of the temporary walls and the roof carried by scaffolding on both sides thereof.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged section showing means for attaching the roof panels over the tops of the wall panels.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged vertical section showing means for attaching the roof panels at intermediate locations.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring first to FIG. 8, the general location of the temporary walls is shown in relation to a rising masonry wall designated W. On both sides of wall W are conventional steel scaffolding SI and S2 which are built up from the ground in known manner. The scaffolding provides progressively higher staging for the workmen. Staging on both sides of the wall is customary, as under union rules bricklayers are notpermitted to lay bricks or cement blocks on both sides of the wall in progress.

On the outside of the scaffolding; S1 is the temporary wall T1 and on the outside of the scaffolding S2 is the temporary wall T2. Temporary roofing made of the same material as the walls is secured overhead to the tops of the walls. Similar temporary end walls, not shown, will connect with the side walls T1 and T2, to provide a complete enclosure for wall W. This enclosure may be heated readily through the use of a conventional gas or oil fired space heater.

Now referring to FIG. 1, there is shown an exterior side elevational view of the invention covering an area of four sections which for convenience are designated sections A, B, C and D. Each section is comprised of three panels of rigid corrugated figerglass designated b, c, d for section A; e, f, g for section B; j, k, l for section C and m, n, 0 for section D. Detailed reference hereinafter will be made to sections A and C, and panels b, c, d, j, k and l for an understanding of the invention but it will be understood that such description will suffice for other sections B and D, which are the same as sections A and C.

The dimensions of the panels for vertical application are the same as to length and the same as to width for ease of erection. The supports for the panels comprise a plurality of generally vertical posts of which three are shown in FIG. 1 at 2, 4 and 6. One convenient type of post may be the vertical tubular elements of conventional steel scaffolding, such as that already referred to in FIG. 8. The scaffolding may extend continuously upward in the usual manner to provide walkways for the workmen at advancing heights. The posts of the scaffolding are mounted one on the other thus to form continuous posts equally spaced laterally to which the horizontal channels may be attached as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8.

As soon as two or more posts, such as posts 2, 4 and 6 are established, a succession of horizontal members indicated at 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28 and 30, may be connected thereto. Each horizontal member preferably extends from center to center of the posts as shown in FIG. 2. The horizontal members may preferably be in the form of lightweight steel channels having dimensions for example of 2 inches X 1 inch X 56 inch, which will provide adequate strength. Each channel has a tongue 32 secured at one end of the channel, which tongue extends into the adjacent channel as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Suitable countersunk holes are drilled through the channels and tongues to receive bolts 34 and 36 which extend past the posts 2 and 4 (see FIG. 2) whereby through the use of a cooperating plate 38 with corresponding holes there through and wing nuts 40 and 42, the ends of the horizontal members may be firmly but removably clamped to the posts.

Additional channels such as those indicated at 44 and 46 in FIG. 1 may be similarly attached to the posts to provide additional intermediate support for the panels.

From the foregoing it will be understood that a strong demountable rectangular frame is provided capable of supporting the panels against all ordinary and even extraordinary weather condition. The nature of the panels and the manner of attaching them to the frames will now be explained.

In the preferred form, the fiberglass panels are corrugated with the corrugations running vertically. The panels are overlapped at their side edges sufficiently to give a good sealing connection. The panels preferably are of stock dimensions. Three panels, b, c and d, with their edges overlapping will cover one section defined by posts 2 and 4, and horizontal channels and 18. Thus, referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the bottom of panel b overlaps the top of panel j. At the same time, the left sides of panels b and j overlap the right sides of panels a and i. At each corner there is, of course, a four layer overlap but because the panels are only about A; inch thick, no appreciable openings are created. Except at the corners there is only a single overlap with the panels in tight engagement with each other. In a preferred arrangement, a molded neoprene filler NF is positioned between the horizontal members and the corrugated panels. The filler is permanently cemented or otherwise secured to the horizontal members. This aids in quickly locating the panels in proper position.

In similar manner, the bottom of panel J overlaps the top of panel b, left side of panel c overlaps the right side of panel b, and the bottom of panel c overlaps the top of panel k.

By the foregoing explanation of the arrangement of the panels, it will be appreciated that all of the sections may be fully covered by panels of uniform size with all edges overlapping to provide complete protection against the weather.

The panels are connected to the horizontal channels by specially designed clips made of spring wire. The connection means is such that it may be applied and removed from the interior side of the panels. The panels are initially applied progressively along one level. As soon as they are in place, the panels on the level above may be applied.

An individual attaching clip 50 is shown in perspective in FIG. 7 in its contracted position. It has a down turned end 52, a first shank 54, a circular spring part 56, and a second shank 58 which terminate in a hook end 60.

All of the panels have a plurality of suitably located small holes there through which are indicated in FIG. 1 at 62 and 64, and shown in enlarged detail in FIGS. 4 and 5.

With the panelj, for example, (see FIGS. 4 and 5) in position to be attached at its upper end to channel 18 and at its lower end to channel 26, the operator directs the end 52 of the clip 50 through one of the holes 62, then pulls the shank 58 to a position more or less in alignment with shank 54 which will bring the hook 60 to a position where it may be placed over the lower edge of channel 18, as shown in FIG. 5. Additional clips are then placed in the other holes 62 and similarly attached to the channel 18, thus to secure the top of the panel j to channel 18.

In similar manner, clips 50 are placed in holes 64 at the bottom of the panel j to attach the bottom part to channel 26, as shown in FIG. 4. The lower part of panel j overlaps the top part of the previously installed panel For greater security, additional holes 66 are provided in the central area of panel j, (see FIG. 1) whereby the panel j can be attached to the intermediate channel 46 which, as previously pointed out, is also demountedly secured to the posts 2 and 4.

The clips 50, while flexible enough to permit each clip to be readily positioned in panel attaching position by hand, in the aggregate provide an attaching strength sufficient to withstand even gale force winds. Hence the user of this invention may have confidence that, once the installation has been properly made, adequate protection against any weather will be provided.

When the protection is no longer needed, the clips are detached, the panels removed and the channels unclamped from the posts of the staging, all to be stored for use on the next job, without any decrease in the service ability of the parts.

The roof is attached to the tops of the walls in much the same way that the walls are attached to the horizontal members.

Referring to FIG. 9, the post 2 has the topmost horizontal channel member 70 clamped thereto in the manner heretofore described by the bolts and wingnuts shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Channel 70 has an angle 72 secured to its top flange 74. The top side of angle 72 has attached thereto a neoprene filler piece NF on which rest the overlapping roof panels of which two are shown at r and s. The panel r has suitably located holes 76 therethrough to received ends 52 of the spring clips 50, whereby the hook ends 60 may be placed under the vertical part of angle 72, thus to hold the roof panels securely in place in weather tight engagement. The angle 72 is of less length than channel 70 so as to avoid interference with the vertical posts to which the channel 70 is clamped.

The roof must also be connected to the tops of post 78 and 80, shown in FIG. 8. This is accomplished by the arrangement shown in FIG. 10. Here the post 78 has a horizontal channel member 82 clamped thereto in the usual manner. An angle 84, having a flared lower edge 86, is secured to the top of the channel as shown. The ends of the roof panels I and it rest on the neoprene filler NF, which panels support the ends of the overlapping center panels v and w. The center panels v and w are secured to channel 82 and attached angle 84 by the use of the spring clips 50, all as heretofore explaned.

The foregoing explanation is believed adequate to show how the wall panels and roof panels may be readily mounted and dismounted by the workmen on the scaffolding framework from the interior sides. As the masonry wall goes up, theroof panels will be removed, additional scaffolding will be added on top of the previous top sections, new horizontal channels will be clamped in place, new wall panels will be attached and then the roof panels will be repositioned to complete the enclosure.

The overall result is that a weather tight temporary housing is maintained about the rising structure so that the advantages of a closed heated space may be had for both the structure and the workmen.

It is also to be understood that the invention is also applicable to the covering of the initially open walls of a building of structural steel, for example. Ordinarily staging will be used thereby to provide the vertical posts heretofore referred to. In the absence of staging the vertical posts can be affixed to the building exterior. Then the individual horizontal channels are clamped to the vertical posts whether staging posts or individual posts and the panels secured to the channels in the manner described by the clips 50.

I claim:

1. A demountable temporary structure for use in protecting a building unit therewithin against the weather,

said temporary structure comprising at least first and second walls located adjacent different sides of said unit, and a roof extending from one wall to the other to cover the space therebetween,

each of said walls comprising a succession of horizontally spaced vertical elements aligned generally parallel to the adjacent building unit,

vertically spaced horizontal members demountably mounted on said vertical elements by detachable clamping means,

the spaces between said vertical elements and said horizontal members being closed by a succession of rectangular wall panels of rigid sheet material, each said wall panel overlappng those adjacent panels that are below and above and to each side, each said wall panel having a plurality of small holes therethrough located adjacent said horizontal members,

each said wall panel being demountably held in position against the panels which it overlaps and against said horizontal members by a plurality of removable tension elements, each of which has one end connected to a wall panel and the other end connected to one of said horizontal members,

some of said horizontal members being demountably connected to said vertical elements by detachable clamping means at positions adjacent the upper ends of said vertical elements and adjacent the upper edges of the uppermost wall panels,

a plurality of rectangular roof panels of rigid sheet material extending across and closing the overhead space between said walls, each said roof panel overlapping adjacent roof panels and the remote portions of said roof panels being connected to the uppermost horizontal members,

each of said roof panels having a plurality of small holes there through adjacent the said uppermost horizontal members,

each of said roof panels being demountably held in position against the roof panels which it overlaps and secured to the said uppermost horizontal members by a plurality of removable tension elements each of which has one end connected to a roof panel and the other end connected to one of said uppermost horizontal members,

each said tension element for holding said wall and roof panels in position comprising an extensible member having means on one end connectable to a wall or roof panel by manual insertion through one of said small holes in the panel from the interior side thereof to make holding engagement with the exterior surface of the panel adjacent said hole,

each said extensible member having means on the other end connectable to a horizontal member, and means intermediate the two said ends of said extensible member for urging the said ends toward each other whereby each said wall and roof panel will be firmly pulled against the adjacent panels and against said horizontal members.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CETIFICATE F QORECTION Patent No. w858936Lt Dated u y 2 1975 Iriventor(s) Leo R0 PIOulX It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, lines 59 and 60 should read as follows:

-- In a similar manner, the bottom of panel 10 overlaps the top of panel 3', left side of panel 0 overlaps the right Signed and sealed this th day of May 1975.,

(SEAL) Attest:

C MARSHALL DANN RUTH C3o MASON Commissioner of Patents Arresting Officer and Trademarks USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 FORM PO-O (10-69) U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING DFFICE: o 

1. A demountable temporary structure for use in protecting a building unit therewithin against the weather, said temporary structure comprising at least first and second walls located adjacent different sides of said unit, and a roof extending from one wall to the other to cover the space therebetween, each of said walls comprising a succession of horizontally spaced vertical elements aligned generally parallel to the adjacent building unit, vertically spaced horizontal members demountably mounted on said vertical elements by detachable clamping means, the spaces between said vertical elements and said horizontal members being closed by a succession of rectangular wall panels of rigid sheet material, each said wall panel overlappng those adjacent panels that are below and above and to each side, each said wall panel having a plurality of small holes therethrough located adjacent said horizontal members, each said wall panel being demountably held in position against the panels which it overlaps and against said horizontal members by a plurality of removable tension elements, each of which has one end connected to a wall panel and the other end connected to one of said horizontal members, some of said horizontal members being demountably connected to said vertical elements by detachable clamping means at positions adjacent the upper ends of said vertical elements and adjacent the upper edges of the uppermost wall panels, a plurality of rectangular roof panels of rigid sheet material extending across and closing the overhead space between said walls, each said roof panel overlapping adjacent roof panels and the remote portions of said roof panels being connected to the uppermost horizontal members, each of said roof panels having a plurality of small holes there through adjacent the said uppermost horizontal members, each of said roof panels being demountably held in position against the roof panels which it overlaps and secured to the said uppermost horizontal members by a plurality of removable tension elements each of which has one end connected to a roof panel and the other end connected to one of said uppermost horizontal members, each said tension element for holding said wall and roof panels in position comprising an extensible member having means on one end connectable to a wall or roof panel by manual insertion through one of said small holes in the panel from the interior side thereof to make holding engagement with the exterior surface of the panel adjacent said hole, each said extensible member having means on the other end connectable to a horizontal member, and means intermediate the two said ends of said extensible member for urging the said ends toward each other whereby each said wall and roof panel will be firmly pulled against the adjacent panels and against said horizontal members. 